About

About

The Writing Resource is language blog for writers and editors and anyone seriously interested in language. Grammar, usage, and other language lessons are short but thorough—because busy language professionals need to be able to use their tools well. In addition to language lessons, you’ll find book and resource reviews, tips on the writing process, and more.

Have a question on a specific topic? Drop me a line and I’ll be glad to help you out.

Having flirted with the freelance life since 2005, Erin finally divorced Corporate America in 2009 to raise her children single-handedly: Right Touch Editing, a four-year-old customizable editing service, and the newborn The Writing Resource, a blog offering quick lessons in language mechanics.

With a BA and an MA in English, Erin has been an editing professional for over 15 years and is sought after for her expertise in language mechanics. She works on a variety of media in all levels of editing, specializing in business publications and web content.

In addition to working with clients, Erin teaches copyediting and social media for the University of California San Diego Extension School. Email Erin if you’d like her to coach your employees in writing or editing skills. She’ll customize a course to fit your needs.

About Right Touch Editing

Founded in 2005, Right Touch Editing is a customizable editing service. We offer several editing levels and can coach you on what each level offers and what your needs might be. You can also customize the edit itself: we will follow your style to the letter, creating a project style sheet so you can easily see what kind of editorial decisions have been made—and easily change them if necessary.

Each project is different. That’s why we ask to see a sample of your copy before offering you a quote. We’ll edit your sample—for free—to get a feel for the project and for you to try out the service. You’ll receive a more accurate price and time quote and an idea of what an edit of your project will look like. If Right Touch Editing isn’t for you, keep the edited sample. We’ll even help you find a more suitable editor.

As a medical writer, I find your blog to be very useful, especially today’s discussion of compose vs. comprise. These terms have become virtually interchangeable in life sciences, but it’s helpful to get an accurate definition of their use. I must say that I was very surprised, however, at your misuse of “maybe” in the hint (“more than one maybe correct”). I hope it was just a typo! “Maybe” is, of course, an adverb synonymous with “perhaps”, while “may be” comprises a verb and its auxiliary (hope I used comprise correctly here!). Maybe a discussion of their use and distinction would make for a good blog topic! 😉

Your Writing Resource is very helpful. Thanks for sharing. It is always good to connect with other wordsmiths and get inspiration, especially when you work in an environment with very very few other people who do what you do.

You’re welcome, Donna. I worked as a proofreader in one place for many years. I was the only editing professional; everyone else was either a graphic designer or a copywriter. It was lonely in some regards. I’m so grateful for being able to connect with other editors online!

Thanks, Robin. I see you’ve found the flaw in my plan: a contact page! (Clearly, I need an editor to think of these things for me.) You can send them to me via this link: http://righttouchediting.com/contact.htm. And I’ll work on a contact page for the blog!

[…] As I was ramping up the music writing, I was pursuing a parallel passion for journalism. In college, I dove into it relentlessly, writing for the Salem State Log and slowly earning myself a degree in English (the major) and Communications (the minor). I also helped edit submissions for Sounding’s East, the college literary magazine edited by a beautiful redhead who I eventually married. If you really want to know how to write effectively, check out her blog here. […]

Um, Erin, shouldn’t that be “a surprising *number* of tweets, updates, articles, posts [etc.]”, not “amount”? Or am I missing something intentionally subtle that you’re trying to convey about your consumption of said tweets and posts in bulk?

Thanks for your comment, Katie. Although amount is generally paired with mass nouns and number paired with count nouns, amount can also be used with count nouns when they are thought of as a mass. This usage follows notional agreement, which focuses more on the intended meaning. In this case, I was thinking of the tweets, et al in bulk rather than individually.